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This is a makeup for a weather postponed game. The Lightning have won all four meetings between the teams, two at the Budweiser Gardens. The Lightning are coming into the game on a three-game losing streak while Ottawa is 3-3 in their last six games.

HAWKS TO WATCH:

The SkyHawks have players who can put the ball in the hole. They are fourth in the NBL in offence. Where they struggle is on defence. They are eighth in points given up a game. The SkyHawks are led by Ryan Anderson, who averages 19 points a game and is second in three-pointers made. Justin Tubbs is an athletic swing man who averages 16.5 points a game. Jermaine Johnson gives the SkyHawks some inside presence. He’s first in the NBL in field-goal percentage.

GOOD HEALTH:

The Lightning are healthy going into this game even though Darin Mency and Tony Bennett missed practice Tuesday. Mency is trying to get over an illness and Bennett had to leave to attend his grandfather’s funeral. Bennett was expected back just before game time.

HOW GOOD IS THIS:

The Brampton A’s are likely to play before two big crowds at the Budweiser Gardens. Lightning general manager Taylor Brown said if you want to be at the game, best get your tickets soon. He expects there will be more than 7,000 at Sunday’s game when the A’s are in town. He thinks the Family Day matinee on Monday, Feb. 17 will be a sellout. Both those games should provide quite the basketball atmosphere.

FREEBIE TICKETS:

Every team gives out a certain number of complimentary tickets to their games. But the reason the Lightning are able to attract those big crowds has nothing to do with free tickets. Corporate sponsors purchase blocks of tickets and then do with them what they will. On Sunday the Athletic Club has purchased all the tickets to the upper bowl. About 1,500 of those tickets go to kids and their family members from Knollwood Park, St. Michael and Lord Elgin schools.

GARRETT NOW KNOWN:

Lightning’s Garrett Williamson is not going to surprise anyone anymore. Williamson exploded onto the NBL scene and teams quickly realized they had to game plan for him. Teams are doing everything short of garroting him to slow him down. In his last three games he’s only averaged eight points a game, but he’s finding other ways to help the team. His assist total has gone up. The Lightning need to help him find a way to get loose so he can let his athleticism take over.

ATTENDANCE:

The NBL should be a little panicked by the woeful attendance figures. It’s midway through Year 3 and the numbers have regressed. Meanwhile, franchises are looking for something, anything from the NBL head office to help in terms of exposure and sponsorship. Don’t hold your breath. The Lightning are the one team that’s made significant gains in attendance. They’ve gone from 2,647 in 2013 to 3,396 in 2014. Windsor Express 625 to 694; Mississauga Power 399 to 476; Island Storm 1,873 to 1,564; Moncton Miracles 1,730 to 1,730; Saint John Mill Rats 2,091 to 1,680; Halifax Rainmen 2,538 to 1,406. The expansion A’s are at 770 a game and Ottawa SkyHawks at 925 a game.